Bilbao La Alhóndiga (Project by Philip Starck)

Myrtha Pools have been chosen for a new important european project, designed byPhilippe Starck! Two pools built thanks to the already renowned excellence features guaranteed by Myrtha Technology: a 25×21.20×1.35 m Myrtha Classic overflow pool and a 27×21.20×0.70-1.35 m Classic overflow one, designed with large windowed walls on the floor to make it transparent and so visible to those who walk underneath.

In the centre of the city of Bilbao, after a transformation process, one of the buildings that are more representative for the town has resurfaced: the Corn Exchange, the wine shop designed by Ricardo Bastida in 1909 that is now AlhondigaBilbao, a busy place for all the people and it drives at becoming a new mover for leisure and culture.

The old wine warehouse, of the Art Nouveau period and declared “artistic heritage” by Basque government in 1999, celebrates the 100 years of life after the refurbishment of the façades and the transformation of the interior with the building of new areas under the control of French designerPhilippe Starck.
Tireless creator, Starck fell in love with the AlhondigaBilbao project and with the town at first sight: the result of this relation is a unique, original and simple urban space but riddled with surprises, that doesn’t leave anyone cold … the construction of an open indefinite space where energy becomes alive.

The building, destined to culture, revolves around the three floors of the 3.800 m² multi-media library, distributed on a 30 by 38 meter surface in plan, where, to win the maximum spatial flexibility, 17 m spans have been built.
The space destined to relax and to care of the body has a 39 by 45 m dimension with 34 m free spans and it contains all the wellness and fitness functions with a gym that is about 2.700 m² on two levels. At the last floor, the big pools built with Myrtha technology, heated by 200 m² solar panels and surmounted by a windowed cover, occupy the surface of two adjacent blocks and, in the part of link corresponding to the empty space underneath, the transparent floor appears highly scenographic. At the same level, there are also a superb panoramic terrace on the town and a solarium framed by long arch walls with a metaphysical flavour. The third building, at last, hosts 3.800 m² of complementary activities, arranged on three floors, two of which are open to public.